Drug delivery device

Abstract

Electrical treatment apparatus (100) for use with an associated molecule source, comprising: at least one electrode (106); a power source (120) for electrifying said at least one electrode; and a controller, which is programmed to activate the power source (120) to selectively electrify said at least one electrode (106) to apply at least one electric field including a transport effect for transporting a molecule in a desired manner and a non-excitatory control effect for controlling the activity of at least a part of a non-cardiac excitable tissue, said programming selected to achieve a desired provision of said molecule into said at least a part of an excitable tissue or associated vasculature, said desired provision being at least assisted by an interaction between the transport effect and the control effect.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a U.S. national filing of PCT Application No. PCT / IL00 / 00832, filed Dec. 13, 2000. This application claims the benefit under 119 (e) of US provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 137,553, filed Jun. 4, 1999 and is also a continuation-in-part of PCT application No. PCT / IL00 / 00319, filed Jun. 4, 2000, now U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 980,908, filed Dec. 4, 2001 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to electrically mediated transport of drugs into cardiac tissue and / or into cells of the tissues.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Electroporation is a technique used for introducing molecules across a cell membrane and into a cell. In a typical application, an in-vitro cell culture is mixed with a target molecule and a brief electrical field is applied to the mixture. The electrical field causes a transient porosity of the cell membranes, allowing the molecules to enter the cell. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, knowledge of what types of pulses will not cause an ectopic excitation and or other arrhythmia, (herein referred to as an arrhythmia) in any particular excitable tissue organ and / or methods for controlling such arrhythmia should they occur are used to apply pulses having larger voltages, currents and / or durations than previously thought possible, to the excitable tissue, for the purpose of transporting drugs. In addition, a variety of waveforms becomes available. Optionally, apparatus designed for non-excitatory pulses is used (e.g., not a pacemaker), making possible various programmable pulse forms and larger amounts of power. However, in some embodiments of the invention, a modified pacemaker / simulator may be used, for example a pacemaker with modified programming, to provide a non-excitatory pulse.

[0014]An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to an interaction between non-excitatory signals applied and the molecule transport. In some embodiments of the invention, the transport pulse and / or an optionally provided second non-excitatory pulse prevent and / or counteract adverse affects of the transport pulse and / or of the transported molecule, for example by preventing the propagation of undesirable action potentials. In some embodiments of the invention, the transport pulse is applied at a location spatially displaced from the location of the second non-excitatory pulse. In some embodiments of the invention, the adverse effect that is contracted by the second non-excitatory pulse is caused by a non-transport electrical signal, for example an electrical or optical signal used to stimulate cells in or near the excitable tissue to perform angiogenesis.

[0051]In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, said controller coordinates the interaction of a systemic molecule and locally available molecule, to have a synergistic effect. Optionally, said local molecule blocks an effect of said systemic molecule. Alternatively or additionally, said local molecule enhances an effect of said systemic molecule. Alternatively or additionally, said systemic molecule blocks an effect of said local molecule away from said a locality where said local molecule is provided. Alternatively or additionally, said systemic molecule enhances an effect of said local molecule.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, some molecules may have a systemic toxic effect and / or may damage some organs of the body.

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